Basic facts about Syria

Country: The Syrian Arab Republic

Area: 185,180 sq km (including the 1,200-sq km Golan Heights still occupied by Israel)

Population:

22.198 million (2010). More than 80 percent of the residents are Arabians, and the rest are Kurds, Armenians, and Turkmen. Arabic is the national language, and English and French are commonly used. About 85 percent of the residents are Muslims, and 14 percent are Christian. Of the Muslims,Sunnis account for 80 percent (about 68 percent of the country’s population), and Shiites, the rest 20 percent, with 75 percent being Alawites (about 11.5 percent of the total population).

Capital: Damascus, with a population of 4.5 million.

Head of state:

President Bashar Al-Assad. He took office in July 2000, and won the second term in May 2007.

Independence day: April 17.

(Source: fmprc.gov.cn)